too busy to
attend to customers, save as they might be able to note them by turns.

Finally Tavia had decided upon a pin. Dorothy was pleased with it--the
enameled clover-leaf was simple yet effective.

"I do wish people would not crush so," complained Tavia, as some one
crowded her against the glass showcase.

"Hush!" whispered Dorothy, "It is not well to let people see ill nature.
We will get along better if we just take things as they come."

Tavia felt the rebuke--she had spoken loud enough to attract attention,
and people did stare. At the same time it was not comfortable to be
carried with the tide and be unable to direct one's own movements.

"Is that the little woman in black?" she asked as a dark figure glided
past.

"Looks like her," replied Dorothy, smiling, anxious to have Tavia recover
her good humor. "Seems as if we cannot lose her."

"I think it was she who pushed me that time," Tavia explained, "and it
made me angry."

"I did not see her then," said Dorothy, somewhat surprised.

"No, she was directly back of you, and had your purse been in that open
bag I fancy she might have--made a mistake in judging to whom the bag
belonged."

"Nonsense," protested Dorothy. "She would not do anything like that. She
simply happened to be interested in the same line of goods we were
seeking."

"Well, I never saw such greedy eyes," insisted Tavia. "If she could get
our cash with them I am quite sure we might walk home, for all of her. A
muff is a great thing in a crowd."

"Suppose we go to the rest room and look over the list," suggested
Dorothy. "I feel we have not begun to shop yet, although we have been in
this store almost an hour. It will straighten us out to start fresh."

Dorothy turned, and Tavia was directly back of her. Both noticed that the
clerks seemed excited--one was talking over the desk telephone, while
others looked excitedly into trays and boxes.

Presently it seemed that all eyes were directed toward Dorothy. She felt
the implied charge instantly, and her face crimsoned.

"What are they gawking at?" asked Tavia aloud, with her usual recklessness
under excitement.

But before Dorothy could reply she was tapped lightly on the shoulder,
and, turning, she beheld a young woman, tall, dark and most
important-looking.

"You must step into the office," she said authoritatively, at the same
time taking Dorothy's arm.

"Shoplifting!" exclaimed some one. Tavia clutched Dorothy's arm.

"